79th Annual Academy Award Nominations

The Oscar list was announced on Tuesday. Here are some highlights! 79th Annual Academy Award Nominations and Winners to be announced on Sunday, February 25th.

THE AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR

WILL DICAPRIO GRAB THE AWARD?

Hollywood heart-throb Leonardo DiCaprio has been talking about the affect his latest film Blood Diamond has had on him. set in Sierra Leone, the film charts the effects of the brutal diamond trade that has killed millions across Africa.

And its Portrayal has made DiCaprio-who stars as Danny Archer, A South African mercenary in pursuit of a rare pink diamond that could transform his life-think twice about where he buys his diamonds from in the future, reports contact music.

"If I were to ever buy a diamond again, I would certainly make sure that they a way to prove to me that it didn't come from a conflict area," he said .. Meanwhile, the film seems to be having a beneficial impact not only on DiCaprio but also on the film industry, which has given the movie numerous awards nominations.

It has picked up five Oscar nominations. DiCaprio, 32, has been nominated for best Actor in the African drama and his co-star Djimom Hounsou has bagged the top nod for best actor in a supporting role and Blood Diamond is also in the running for best achievement in film editing and sound mixing and editing.

THE AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS

CRUZ NOMINATED FOR BEST ACTRESS

Penelope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to be nominated as Best Actress for an Oscar which will be presented on February 25.

Cruz, 32, played the leading role in the most recent film Volver directed by Pedro Almodovar and was nominated for her performance in it.

However, Volver will not complete for an Oscar for the Best Foreign Film, local press said on Tuesday.

Cruz will have to defeat some other candidates to win the prize: British actresses Helen Mirren for her role in the Queen, Judy Dench for notes on a Scandal and Kate Winslet for Little Children. Cruz's role in Volver is considered her best performance.

Her character, Raimunda, is an uneducated woman who faces life and death with kindness and limitless vitality. has been nominated for or has own several prizes related to Cannes Festival, the European Film Academy, the British BAFTA prize, the Spanish Goya prize, the Golden Globe and the Oscar.THE AWARD FOR BEST PICTURE

BABEL'S BRAD PITT BLABBERS ABOUT STRIPPERS

Babel which stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett received seven nominations including two for best supporting actresses.

Recently, Pitt said that he owed his career to strippers. The Babel star used to work as personal chauffeur to a strip group women of the pole who introduced him to famous acting coach Roy London. Brad said if he hadn't met London he would never have made it in Hollywood.

"Strippers changed my life." However, Pitt did not land a nomination for the Best Actor Award this year.

THE AWARD FOR BEST FOREIGN FILM

DEEPA MEHTA'S WATER IN FINAL FIVE

India-born director Deepa Mehta's Film WATER was on Tuesday selected among the final five Oscar award nominations for Best Foreign language category.

Water, set in pre-independence India and focusing on the travails of Hindu widows, was Canada's official entry to the conveted awards.

For Indian buffs, the Hindi-language film's inclusion would be some consolation after India's official entry, Rang De Basanti, did not make it to the competition.

The winner will be announced at a glittering ceremony February 25 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Nominees:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleNominees:

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleNominees:

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting RoleNominees:

Best Achievement in Directing

Nominees:

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the ScreenNominees

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or PublishedNominees